The 5th ASHRAE International conference on Efficient Building Design at the American University of Beirut (AUB) was opened today by Omar Masri, on behalf of the Munib and Angela Masri Institute of Energy and Natural Resources.  

The two-day conference, which will take an in-depth look into material and HVAC equipment technologies, also saw opening speeches from Dr Fadlo Khuri, president of the AUB, Dr Ahmad Alaa Eldin Mohammed, representing ASHRAE, Mr Zaki Zaatari, president of the Ashrae Chapter and Dr Alan Shihadeh, dean of the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at AUB. 

In his speech, Mr. Masri underlined the key role that universities should play in meeting the challenge to move the building sector to net-zero carbon emissions: 

“Across the globe, universities must play an impactful role in advancing affordable, resilient, and equitable solutions that can bring every sector of the developed and developing economies to net-zero carbon emissions.  

“The Munib and Angela Masri Institute of Energy and Natural Resources is fully committed to resilient decarbonization of the various sectors of the economy, including but not limited to energy, building services and construction, transport, industrial, and waste.” 

He went on to emphasize the importance of the building industry adopting an integrated, all-encompassing strategy where key players are willing to invest in climate-neutral products and processes and support technology innovations to accelerate the change.  

Outlining how the Masri Institute is supporting this, Mr Masri said: 

“Through seed funding, the Masri Institute supports faculty research that uses existing or deploys new tools of inquiry in science, computations, technology, economics, and policy to enable the transition of society to carbon-free activities. Carbon-free activities that place health and the wellbeing of people at the top of the priorities pyramid.  

“Moreover, the Masri Institute, under the watchful eye and guidance of its founder, Trustee Munib Masri, is working with AUB’s facility planning and design team to introduce various initiatives on campus to help reduce the building carbon footprint. It is no secret - we have complex problems that require innovative solutions.” 

Mr Masri continued by acknowledging the work of the AUB and ASHRAE in advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. 

The Munib and Angela Masri Institute of Energy and Natural Resources at the American University of Beirut (AUB) was established in June 2007 and has since brought together a community of researchers who work on topics related to topics including decarbonization of industry, clean energy production, energy efficiency, environmental management practices of the oil & gas industry and water purification.